Fluorescence Probe Based on Graphene Quantum Dots for Selective, Sensitive and Visualized Detection of Formaldehyde in Food

Abstract

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have been successfully used as a highly sensitive probe for the sensing of formaldehyde (HCHO) in an aqueous solution. Through static quenching, the probe utilizes the interaction between HCHO and GQDs to trigger the “turn off” fluorescence response, and has good selectivity. The probe can detect HCHO in a pure aqueous solution, and it also can still detect HCHO in a complex environment with a pH range from 4 to 10. The concentration of HCHO and the fluorescence intensity of GQDs show a good linear relationship within the range of HCHO of 0–1 μg/mL, which was much more sensitive than previous reports. The limit of HCHO detection by GQDs is about 0.0515 μg/mL. In addition, we successfully applied it to the actual food inspection. It is proved to be a selective, sensitive and visualized method to check whether the concentration of HCHO in the foods exceeds the regulatory limit, which presents a potential application in food safety testing.

Recent progress of oxidative stress associated biomarker detection

“…The CFAP700 probe exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity for visualizing the generation of FA by folate cycle metabolism, providing a powerful tool to unveil the biological functions of FA. Moreover, metal-organic framework materials (MOF) 63 and graphene quantum dots (GQDS) 64 have been developed for FA detection, providing additional tools to explore the physiological and pathological processes of FA in many diseases.…”

Development of Analytical Methods Based on the Photoluminescence of an Eu(iii) Beta-Diketonate Complex, New Silver-Modified Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots and a Benzothiadiazole Derivative

“…Zhang et al [164] proposed a probe to detect formaldehyde, in aqueous solutions and food extracts, based on the use of GQDs, obtained by heating citric acid in an oil bath and then dispersing the resultant liquid into NaOH solution.…”